Friday, January 23, 2015

Good Day Reader Friends,
The Queen here with an interesting tale of bravery and courage. Paul Goble's Horse Raid: The Making of a Warrior is an engaging story of a young brave's wish to prove himself to his family and community. Despite the story being historical in setting, I believe children of today can relate to Lone Bull's desire to be taken seriously.

For the tribes of the American plains in the Buffalo Days of the pre-reservation life, horse raiding was a chance for men to show their courage and bravery in battle. “No man can help another to be brave,” says grandfather to fourteen-year-old Lone Bull, “but through brave deeds you may become a leader one day.” Lone Bull wanted to be a warrior and he knew he could be victorious in a horse raid if only given the chance! But when Lone Bull’s father refuses to let his son and his best friend join the raid, what do the young boys do? They set off to follow the group with the help of grandfather! Will it all end in disaster?

Master storyteller Paul Goble brings to life this exciting and timeless coming-of-age story of Lone Bull, a young Lakota boy eager to join the warriors on a horse raid against the Crow. This newly-revised edition features digitally enhanced artwork, completely revised text, a brand new layout, and a fascinating “Foreword” from world-famous storyteller Joseph Bruchac.

Paul Goble is an award winning author and illustrator of children's books. He has won both the Caldecott Medal and The Library of Congress' Children's Book of the Year Award. To date, Mr. Goble has illustrated over 30 books. He has given his entire collection of original illustrations to the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, South Dakota.

Goble, a native of England, studied at the Central School of Art in London. He has lived in the United States since 1977 and became a citizen in 1984. Goble's life-long fascination with Native Americans of the plains began during his childhood when he became intrigued with their spirituality and culture. His illustrations accurately depict Native American clothing, customs and surroundings in brilliant color and detail. Goble researches ancient stories and retells them for his young audiences in a manner sympathetic to Native American ways. Goble lives with his wife in Rapid City, SD.

Illustrator: Joseph Bruchac For over thirty years Joseph Bruchac has been creating poetry, short stories, novels, anthologies and music that reflect his Abenaki Indian heritage and Native American traditions.

He is the author of more than 120 books for children and adults. The best selling Keepers of the Earth: Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children and others of his “Keepers” series, with its remarkable integration of science and folklore, continue to receive critical acclaim and to be used in classrooms throughout the country.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Hello Dear Reader Friends,
The Queen here with a new book feature for your reading pleasure.
Noodles and Albie is a fun, adventure story about friendship. The artwork is beautifully done and provides much to look at. And the story is both touching and meaningful.

Book Summary
Noodles and Albie - By Eric S Bennett Illustrations by Liz Bannish. A penguin tale of friendship and coming of age. It's the story of a young penguin named Noodles on his first (very memorable) adventure at sea in the mysterious Southern Ocean. When his fun takes a turn and Noodles discovers he is lost, he tries to find his way home before darkness sets in, meeting an interesting cast of characters along the way. Noodles has nearly given up when he meets a friendly fish named Albie who knows the sea "like the back of my fin." They begin the journey together. But will they make it home to the penguin colony before dark? This charming and imaginative story is set against a backdrop of beautifully intricate watercolor illustrations that help bring the story to life.

Writing Prompts:
Pick a character from the story and put them in their own story. Who is your favorite? If you could be a sea animal, what would you be? Write about it.

Discussion Questions:

Read the story behind the making of this book. Talk about what prompted Mr. Bennet to bring his story to the world.
Sometimes we have stories lurking inside us. What fears or worries keep us from sharing them with others? What are ways to overcome those fears and let you talents shine?

Authors Arena

Author: Eric Bennett

Growing up in Queens, New York, Eric Bennett's passion for penguins beganas a kid. Shortly after graduating Queens College he opened the world's first all-penguin shop, and eventually his penguins found a home at his online igloo at penguingiftshop.com. Eric presently lives in Northampton, Mass, with his daughters and a few hundred penguins.

Illustrator: Liz Bannish
Liz Bannish was raised in land-locked West Springfield, Massachusetts. She received her BFA from the University of Massachusetts/Amherst and currently lives in Northampton. Bannish spends her time making art, exploring strange new worlds, and thinking about her favorite sea creatures. See more of her work at lizbannish.com.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Good Day Dear Readers-
If Kids Ruled the World, I think we'd have ice cream for breakfast and never have set bedtimes.

This delightful book offers some fun ways kids might make the world more interesting. The pictures are wonderfully done and the text is easy to read, even for beginners. Below, you'll also find a fun activity idea to go along with the text.

Book Theme:Imagination, utopia from a child's point of view, Inventiveness, the world

Book Summary

This original, fun picture book delightfully describes, in hilarious detail, a small child's idea of utopia. Every two-page spread offers something new about this fantasy life, including, "If kids ruled the world, every day would be your birthday! Birthday cake would be good for you. Your doctor would say, ?Don't forget to eat your birthday cake so you'll grow up strong and healthy!'" And, "You could go to any kind of school you like ? Circus School. Fairy School. Inventing School. Lots of kids would go to Recess School." The topics that bestselling, award-winning author Linda Bailey has chosen are pitch-perfect for young children, from bedtime and baths (none!) to pets and tree houses (lots!). And illustrator David Huyck's detailed, brightly hued artwork is full of energy, joy and humor that gets right to the heart of a child's view of the world. While this is a book that would happily be enjoyed from cover to cover, it's not hard to envision an enthralled child spending long stretches of time daydreaming about one particular scenario. In the classroom, this book would make an excellent springboard for art projects or creative writing assignments that explore children's own unique image of the perfect world. Particularly gratifying is the emphasis throughout on sharing all the good things brought to life in a world of a child's own making. This book is a truly exuberant celebration of childhood, play and imagination. It's sure to become a classic.

Color and cut out. Glue to the middle of the poster.
Now, draw a picture of yourself. Use half an 8x10 paper. Cut out you and glue on top of the world.

Like it? Now, here's what you need to do. Think of ways you would make the world a better place. Think of funny things. But also think of at least two serious things.

While doing this, also let their imagination go wild as they come up with crazy ways they would rule the world.

Writing Prompts:

Write a speech about ways you think you can make the world a better place. Like the poster, your ideas can be funny and silly, but you need to come up with one very real way you can make the world a better place.

Discussion Questions:

Teachers and Parents: Help children brainstorm real ways they can make the world a better place. Such as picking up litter, or not littering. Making a bird feeder for birds during the winter. Talk about kindness and helpfulness.

Authors Arena

Author:

Linda Bailey is an award-winning author of many books for children, including Goodnight Sweet Pig, Stanley's Party, the Stevie Diamond Mysteries, and the Good Times Travel Agency series. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Illustrator:

Raised near Chicago, DavidHuyck grew up half a block from the candy store in one direction, and half a block from the playground in the other. Along with a limitless supply of Legos, cartoons and all genres of books, the resulting high-fructose queasiness is the point source for everything he has made ever since.

If you're looking for a helpful book to explain how dogs help people, this is a great starting book. There's more, and I've included some links to places that will help enhance your lesson plans and discussions.

Book Theme: Service dogs, guide dog, blindness, disabilities

Book Summary:

Colorful and heartwarming illustrated chapter book entertains and explains to children the vital role of a guide dog in the daily life of a blind person. "My name is Sammy and today my friend Cindy and I are going to the mall. I'm her guide dog and my job is very important. Cindy is legally blind and it's my job to keep her safe." The story will help children better understand the challenges Cindy faces and how her guide dog provides invaluable support. As Cindy Lou and Sammy travel through the shops, people stop to pet Sammy, but Cindy kindly asks them not to, explaining that he's working and needs to remain focused on his job. The book expertly explains why others should never disrupt a guide dog. Sammy also shares the rules he follows in his daily life, such as why he is only allowed to eat at certain times during the ﻿day, and what certain commands from Cindy mean to him. Readers learn that although guid ﻿e dogs are allowed everywhere with their owners, managers of stores and restaurants will often ask for proof that Sammy is in fact a service dog. Sammy tells readers that if he and Cindy are only one step out of sync with each other, Cindy can easily get hurt. Cindy Lou and Sammy Too Go to the Mall: The Adventure of a Guide Dog Team is a wonderful special education tool for teachers and students, enjoyable for children of all ages to read and to learn about the blind community and courageous guide dogs. Above all else, this delightfully illustrated tale is a story about loyalty and friendship. As readers see the world through Sammy's eyes, they can feel the devotion and love he has for his owner. Educational and heartwarming in equal measure, Cindy and Sammy are certainly a winning team.

Activity Adventures:

Discussion Questions:Talk about some of the etiquette rules when dealing with a service dog, or someone with a disability. These websites might offer a few suggestions: Teaching Kids Disability Etiquette

Authors Arena

Prior to losing her sight nearly 15 years ago due to detached retinas, Cheryl McNeil-Fisher was a successful real estate agent and title closer in the Hudson Valley. After hearing a Public Service Announcement, she attended a Guiding Eyes Walkathon: a step, literally, that led her to apply for admission to a Guiding Eyes dog training program. She graduated with her first Guiding Eyes dog, “Pearl” in the winter of 1994. “Pearl” is now retired, and Cheryl has a second guide dog, “Gregg.”

Prior to losing her sight nearly 15 years ago due to detached retinas, Cheryl McNeil-Fisher was a successful real estate agent and title closer in the Hudson Valley. After hearing a Public Service Announcement, she attended a Guiding Eyes Walkathon: a step, literally, that led her to apply for admission to a Guiding Eyes dog training program. She graduated with her first Guiding Eyes dog, “Pearl” in the winter of 1994. “Pearl” is now retired, and Cheryl has a second guide dog, “Gregg.”

Since graduating from Guiding Eyes, Cheryl, a self described “over achiever,” has received a Bachelor’s Degree in Counseling, was ordained an Interfaith Minister and has worked as an assistant pastor and youth minister. She holds a Masters Degree from The New Interfaith Seminary in New York City and Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN. She is also a volunteer puppy raiser for Guiding Eyes.

Cheryl recently decided to explore her more creative side and started her own business, Cheryl Lynn Designs. Based in Walkill, she custom designs knitted apparel and other items and manages the business on her own. She markets her designs via the internet, using adaptive technology, as well as through in-person presentations and consignment shops.

Accompanied by “Gregg,” Cheryl educates school children and members of civic organizations about blindness and guide dogs.

Cheryl recently received the Entrepreneur with a Disability Award at the National Disability Employment Awareness Awards Ceremony in Poughkeepsie, New York. The event was sponsored by the Office of Vocational and Education Services for Individuals with Disabilities and the Poughkeepsie Area Chamber of Commerce.

Friday, October 10, 2014

Good Day Dear Readers-
Today I have a mid-grade novel to introduce to you. The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson. Love journey books? Steampunk? Adventure? This book has it all.

I actually really enjoyed this book. The characters are likable, the story engaging, and there seems to be a possibility of this being a series. I do not have any activity suggestions, but do recommend this as a fun read.

Piper has never seen the mark of the dragonfly until she finds the girl amid the wreckage of a caravan in the meteor fields.

The girl doesn't remember a thing about her life, but the intricate tattoo on her arm is proof that she's from the Dragonfly Territories and that she's protected by the king. Which means a reward for Piper if she can get the girl home.

The one sure way to the Territories is the 401, a great old beauty of a train. But a ticket costs more coin than Piper could make in a year. And stowing away is a difficult prospect--everyone knows that getting past the peculiar green-eyed boy who stands guard is nearly impossible.

Life for Piper just turned dangerous. A little bit magical. And very exciting, if she can manage to survive the journey.

Jaleigh Johnson is a fantasy author born and raised in the Midwest. Her novels for the Dungeons and Dragons Forgotten Realms fiction line include The Howling Delve, Mistshore, Unbroken Chain, Unbroken Chain: The Darker Road, and Spider and Stone. Her first book for middle grade readers is The Mark of the Dragonfly, from Delacorte Press. In her spare time, she enjoys gaming, gardening, and going to movies with her husband. Visit her online at www.jaleighjohnson.com.

Friday, September 26, 2014

Good Day Dear Readers,
Today we delve into the art of Language with a book to help young scribes with their writing structure. Don't Dangle Your Participle is a beautifully illustrated, fun look at how troublesome misplaced participles can be for everyone. And, how to fix it.

First the author starts off with a description of Dangling Participles, then goes into some examples.

Every classroom should have this book. As always, we've found a few activity ideas teachers can try using to go along with the book.
Happy Reading,
The Queen

~~*~~

Book Title: Don't Dangle Your Participle

Author: Vanita OeischlagerIllustrator: Mike DeSantis

Book Information:

Publisher and date: Vanita Books (May 1, 2014)

Reading level: Preschool - 3rd grade

Book Info: Paperback Children's picturebook

Genre: Grammar

ISBN: 978-1938164033

Book Theme:

Grammar, language arts, parts of speech, writing

Book Summary

Words and pictures show children what a dangling participle is all about. Young readers are shown an incorrect sentence that has in it a dangling participle. They are then taught how to make the sentence read correctly. It is done in a cute and humorous way. The dangling participle loses its way and the children learns how to help it find its way back to the correct spot in the sentence. This is followed by some comical examples of sentences with dangling participles and their funny illustrations, followed by an illustration of the corrected sentence. Young readers will have fun recognizing this problem in sentence construction and learning how to fix it.

Have students rewrite sentences like those in the book, correcting the dangling participle.

Discussion Questions:

Talk about how easy it is to make sentences confusing by misplacing words.
Let students help you fix a few sentences and fix the mix-up/

Authors Arena

Author:

Vanita Oelschlager is a wife, mother, grandmother, philanthropist, former teacher, current caregiver, author and poet. She is a graduate of Mt. Union College in Alliance, Ohio, where she currently serves as a Trustee. Vanita is also Writer in Residence for the Literacy Program at The University of Akron. She and her husband Jim received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in 2006. She won the Congressional ‘Angels in Adoption’ Award for the state of Ohio in 2007 and was named National Volunteer of the Year by the MS society in 2008. She was honored as 2009 Woman Philanthropist of the Year by the Summit County United Way. In May 2011, Vanita received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from University of Mount Union.Prior to her publishing and writing career, Vanita taught school for 19 years and then helped her husband with his company, Oak Associates. Mother of two daughters, stepmother to a son and daughter, she is grandmother to seven.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Welcome back dear Reader Friends,
The Queen here returning from her summer vacation. Since school is now in session (as the dragon's have been quite busy with their homework and classes) I've decided it time to set down with a new list of books to introduce to you. I've searched far and wide over the summer and hope to have some fun and exciting reads for you in the coming months. Check back weekly.

To start off, I've picked a delightfully colorful book for the younger readers. Even if you are just starting to read, the text is simple, and the pictures bright and fun to look at. After you've read the book, scroll down for some ides on how to make your reading experience even more enjoyable.

In this colorful board book, the search for a lost button takes a little girl on an adventure. When the button is nowhere to be found, she and her father set out for a store filled with every imaginable kind of button -- fancy buttons, funny buttons, bowls brimming with button... soup! She soon finds a suitable replacement, only to arrive home to discover the lost button on the stairs. But that's not a problem at all. The found button is quickly stitched on to join all the other fanciful ones on her sweater.

Activity Adventures:

Young Readers:
Working with a large jar of buttons can provide many fine motor activities.
* Scoop buttons from one bowl to another.
* String buttons on a bit of yarn or string. Make into a necklace or bracelet.

* Sort buttons by color, size or shapes

Older Readers:
Make a picture using buttons. Suggestions might be a rainbow, a house, a button dog, or a face.
Or, if you have shape buttons like in the book, draw a picture to put your button on.

Writing Prompts:
Pretend to be a button that fell off a shirt and became lost. Write a story about what you would do? How you would feel: lost or free? Would you try to find your sweater, or roll off on a vacation.

Born and raised in Montreal, Emil taught at a secondary school in rural Botswana before returning to

Montreal to pursue a degree in creative writing. He has written professionally ever since in a variety of genres, for young audiences and the once-were-young. Stage plays, screenplays, non-fiction, children's fiction: at any given time, Emil can be found procrastinating as he juggles a host of projects. Currently, he lives in Toronto with his wife and younger daughter as he texts his out-of-town daughter to distraction. He loves his family to bits, including an untrained dog that ignores him on command.

Illustrator: Cindy Revell
Please see illustrator's website for more information and a gallery of her works.

Friday, April 18, 2014

I found this article and thought I'd share it with those who have reluctant trolls and dragons... Here's 20 Ways to Encourage Reading--
Now for some ways to turn a young reader's reluctance into enthusiasm:

1. Scout for things your children might like to read. Use their interests and hobbies as starting points.

2. Leave all sorts of reading materials including books, magazines, and colorful catalogs in conspicuous places around your home.

3. Notice what attracts your children's attention, even if they only look at the pictures. Then build on that interest; read a short selection aloud, or simply bring home more information on the same subject.

4. Let your children see you reading for pleasure in your spare time.

5. Take your children to the library regularly. Explore the children's section together. Ask a librarian to suggest books and magazines your children might enjoy.

6. Present reading as an activity with a purpose—a way to gather useful information for, say, making paper airplanes, identifying a doll or stamp in your child's collection, or planning a family trip.

7. Encourage older children to read to their younger brothers and sisters. Older children enjoy showing off their skills to an admiring audience.

8. Play games that are reading-related. Check your closet for spelling games played with letter tiles or dice, or board games that require players to read spaces, cards, and directions.

9. Perhaps over dinner, while you're running errands, or in another informal setting, share your reactions to things you read, and encourage your children to do likewise.

10. Set aside a regular time for reading in your family, independent of schoolwork—the 20 minutes before lights out, just after dinner, or whatever fits into your household schedule. As little as 10 minutes of free reading a day can help improve your child's skills and habits.

11. Read aloud to your child, especially a child who is discouraged by his or her own poor reading skills. The pleasure of listening to you read, rather than struggling alone, may restore your child's initial enthusiasm for books and reading.

12. Encourage your child to read aloud to you an exciting passage in a book, an interesting tidbit in the newspaper, or a joke in a joke book. When children read aloud, don't feel they have to get every word right. Even good readers skip or mispronounce words now and then.

13. On gift-giving occasions, give books and magazines based on your child's current interests.

14. Set aside a special place for children to keep their own books.

15. Introduce the bookmark. Remind your youngster that you don't have to finish a book in one sitting; you can stop after a few pages, or a chapter, and pick up where you left off at another time. Don't try to persuade your child to finish a book he or she doesn't like. Recommend putting the book aside and trying another.

16. Treat your children to an evening of laughter and entertainment featuring books! Many children (parents, too) regard reading as a serious activity. A joke book, a story told in riddles, or a funny passage read aloud can reveal another side of reading.

17. Extend your child's positive reading experiences. For example, if your youngster enjoyed a book about dinosaurs, follow up with a visit to a natural history museum.

18. Offer other special incentives to encourage your child's reading. Allow your youngster to stay up an extra 15 minutes to finish a chapter; promise to take your child to see a movie after he or she has finished the book on which it was based; relieve your child of a regular chore to free up time for reading.

19. Limit your children's television viewing in an effort to make time for other activities, such as reading. But never use TV as a reward for reading, or a punishment for not reading.

20. Not all reading takes place between the covers of a book. What about menus, road signs, food labels, and sheet music? Take advantage of countless spur-of-the-moment opportunities for reading during the course of your family's busy day.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Dear Readers,
The Queen here with a bedtime book sure to enthrall the biggest Monster Machine Fans. Boys and girls alike who are fascinated by the large construction site trucks will love this book that shows several trucks as they finished a hard day and get ready for bed. A bonus is that there are some fantastic activity sheets provided at the author and illustrator sites. Find links in the Activity Adventure section.

Happy Reading,
The Queen

~~*~~

Book Title: Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site

Author Sherri Duskey Rinker: Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld

Book Information:

Publisher and date: Chronicle Books (May 4, 2011)

Reading level: Ages 1 and up

Book Info: Hardcover: 32 pages

Genre: Picture book

ISBN: 978-0811877824

Book Summary

As the sun sets behind the big construction site, all the hardworking trucks get ready to say goodnight. One by one, Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, Dump Truck, Bulldozer, and Excavator finish their work and lie down to rest—so they'll be ready for another day of rough and tough construction play! With irresistible artwork by best-selling illustrator Tom Lichtenheld and sweet, rhyming text, this book will have truck lovers of all ages begging for more.

If you could be one of the trucks, which one would you be? Write a short story with illustrations about what your day would be like if you were a truck.

Authors Arena

Author: Sherri Duskey Rinker
Sherri has returned to her passion of writing to indulge her own children's passions. A graphic designer, she lives in Chicago with her photographer husband, a cockapoo named Quincy, several fish, a few hermit crabs, an ever-changing array of insects in jars, toys in every corner, and two energetic and inquisitive young boys: one fascinated by bugs and magic and another obsessed with trucks and trains. She's constantly inspired -- and often exhausted! She created GOODNIGHT, GOODNIGHT, CONSTRUCTION SITE in hopes of happier bedtimes and sweet dreams for all.

This is Sherri's first book.Learn more about this author at her website in the link above.

First-time author Sherri Duskey Rinker's Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site
steadily climbed up the New York Times' Bestseller list throughout
2011, reaching #1 on January 29th, 2012. Here she shares the early inspiration that inspired a career in design, and how another artist
brought her vision to life.

Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld's complete bio
Children's book author & illustrator Tom Lichtenheld writes for kids
who love to laugh and adults who love to laugh along with them. His
books have been featured in Newsweek and Child magazines, as well as the
New York Times Best seller list.
He is available for school and library appearances.
See all of Tom's books and get a glimpse of how he creates them at tomlichtenheld.com